Ashbourne. A city of contrasts — neon-lit streets, towering skyscrapers, and alleys where shadows seemed to breathe. The air was thick with whispers of power, greed, and fear. Neon lights reflected off rain-slicked streets, casting fractured shadows across the faces of its inhabitants. The skyline was a jagged silhouette of corporate towers, clandestine mansions, and fortified enclaves. Beneath the city's glittering veneer, a silent war raged — one that blended blood, power, and the untraceable force of those who operated beyond the law.
For centuries, mafia families had ruled Ashbourne's underbelly, their allegiances shifting like sand in a storm. Ten dominant families - collectively known as The Council of Ten- controlled the trade, the streets, and the whispers of fear. Each family had its legacy, its enforcers, and its secrets — but none wielded the influence of the Reynard family.
The Reynard Bloodline
Once the most respected name in Ashbourne, now a name whispered in fear. Lead by the patriarch Sir John Reynard, they control everything from the shadows. And within this family, a force unlike any the world had ever seen stirred quietly. Amid this chaos, three siblings rose — Adrian, Evan, and Rowan Reynard — collectively known as the KOS, or Killers of the Southside. Ruthless, calculating, and almost mythically skilled, they upheld the balance of Ashbourne in their own hands. Their names were whispered in awe and fear: stories of impossible feats, impossible deaths, and impossible justice.
Adrian Reynard – The eldest and the strongest. Cold, precise, and terrifyingly calm. Known as the Ghost of Ashbourne, he commands KOS with absolute control and unreadable silence. During fights, he becomes an immortal God.
Evan Reynard – The blade in the dark, and master strategist. Reckless yet loyal, his power lies in raw speed and fury. When Evan moves, death follows before the echo fades.
Rowan Reynard – The youngest and the most unpredictable. His calm smile hides chaos — the quiet storm that no one sees coming until it's too late.
In this powerful family, there was a noble soul: Diana Reynard - The younger sister of Adrian, Evan and Rowan, and the Heart of Reynard. She is the favourite of the family due to her innocence and shy nature.
Quinn Thorne - the female protagonist of the novel. The storm beside the ghost; a woman of mystery and quiet fire.
The Hand
The unknown yet supreme entity controlling global underworld mafia. The entity consists of 5 great mafia families across the world-also known as 5 fingers of the Hand. Trying to expand their territory to Ashbourne, they send the heirs of each families to Ashbourne to take control. Each heir carries a different vice: Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, and Pride — and together, they move the city from the shadows, pulling strings the world can't see.
The Superhero Factions
When crime ruled Ashbourne, heroes rose — but none pure, none perfect. Each faction has its own justice, often clashing with mafia codes and the KOS creed. Superhuman organizations like the Wraith Class, Helix Foundation, and Aegis Dawn operated with their own codes, policing and
manipulating the city in equal measure. They were predators, guardians, and occasionally collateral in the wars of men. What began as protection soon turned into manipulation — and now, the line between hero and villain is long gone.
To this world, some teenagers arrives to this city for college studies. This was a city where allegiances shifted, where betrayal lurked in familiar smiles, and where lawlessness and supernatural power collided. Within its shadows, the KOS navigated politics, revenge, and morality — enforcing their own brand of justice in a world that had long forgotten it.
The chronicles that follow recount their rise, their battles, and the intertwined fates of families, factions, and those who dared to stand in Ashbourne's Southside. It is a story of blood, power, and the unrelenting force of three siblings who became legends in their own time.